Erik ten Hag and Marcus Rashford taking centre stage at the Theatre of Dreams

“WE have to change, that is quite clear, we have to start better, in both games, and we have to stick to the team, stick to the plan, and from the first start you have to be switched on. That is what we didn’t do today. It’s not acceptable and it is something we have to work on. Players have to know that.”

Those were the words from a rather perturbed Erik ten Hag following his side’s embarrassing 4-0 thrashing at Brentford on August 13^th, who became the first manager to lose his first two games in charge of Manchester United since John Chapman in November 1921.

When the players returned to training, ten Hag reportedly made his team run a hefty 14km, the exact deficit in distance covered in the match between Brentford and Manchester United. A risky move that in the modern game might alienate a dressing room full of sensitive stars but in truth the Red Devils have not looked back since.

Yes, there’s been one or two bumps in the road this season, mostly in the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo’s desire to have one more Jerry Maguire moment, this time in Saudi Arabia and occasional defeats on the road to Manchester City, Aston Villa and Arsenal. However, Manchester United have won 25 games in all competitions this season, the most of any side in Europe’s top five leagues this season and five more than they’d won across the entire 2021-22 campaign.

After their shaky start in the Premier League and with a tricky fixture versus Liverpool coming up, there were fears Erik ten Hag would be a Dutch managerial bust in the mould of Frank de Boer (lost first four without scoring at Crystal Palace), but alas he turned the tide to such an extent he ended up winning 20 of his first 27 games in charge of Manchester United – the fewest games taken to reach 20 competitive wins by any manager in the club’s history.

Although it’s early days into ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford, the Dutchman can boast the best win percentage of any Manchester United manager in their competitive history (71.4%).

He would’ve been relieved to have had decent backing in the summer transfer window, especially with the addition of Casemiro. The Real Madrid trophy hunter has added a steeliness (maybe too much steel against Crystal Palace) to Manchester United’s midfield that’s been sadly lacking in recent seasons. When the Brazilian has started for Manchester United this season, they’ve lost just two of 23 games compared to losing four of 12 when he’s not started.

Ten Hag’s Manchester United feel like a proper United side. They attack at pace, utilise their wide players and are resilient and dogged until the end. They’ve suffered setbacks this season, but they’ve bounced back each time. Since losing their first two games of the season, Manchester United have won 43 points in the Premier League – only Arsenal (44) have picked up more in this period.

Manchester United rank first, by some distance, in the Premier League this season for direct attacks (53) and goals via direct attacks (7). Although not quite the unashamedly direct Wimbledon side of the early 90s, Manchester United aren’t afraid to mix up the pressing with being able to counter-attack effectively from deeper positions, which feels like a throwback to the ever-nostalgic Ferguson era. It’s in this style that has seen Marcus Rashford flourish exponentially and become a talismanic figure at Old Trafford.

Last season, Rashford had a tough time on the pitch through a mixture of persistent injuries and poor form. Rashford endured a particularly sticky patch between November 2021 and August 2022, where he had a run of scoring in just two of 30 appearances (two goals) and went 17 consecutive games without a goal, before ending his drought versus Liverpool in August. Rashford has gone from strength to strength since.

In 2022-23, Marcus Rashford has scored 20 goals in 33 games – 15 more than he registered last season – and is averaging a goal every 123 minutes under Erik ten Hag; his best minutes-per-goal ratio under any Manchester United manager in his career (20 goals in 2452 minutes).

Indeed, since the resumption of football for Premier League sides after the World Cup, Rashford has scored 12 goals in 14 games, which is more than any other player in Europe’s big five leagues. It’s during this run that he became the first Manchester United player to score in seven consecutive appearances since Cristiano Ronaldo in April 2008.

Adding to the ever-growing list of impressive scoring achievements for Rashford this season, he became the first Manchester United player to score in nine consecutive appearances at Old Trafford in all competitions since Teddy Sheringham in November 2000, with a run starting back in October and ending in January.

In fact, Rashford’s goal last time out against Leeds, saw him become the first Manchester United player to score in six consecutive appearances at Old Trafford in the Premier League since Wayne Rooney in April 2012

Rashford’s all-round contribution to the team has been nothing short of sensational and he’s now been directly involved in an impressive 27 goals for Manchester United in all competitions this term. Indeed, only goal-hog Erling Haaland has registered more goal involvements amongst Premier League players this season.

If Erik ten Hag continues to get this level of performance out of Marcus Rashford and the team, then the Red Devils could well be ending the season with some silverware and a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League at least.

Author: Jack Supple – Opta!